I am a junior in high school, very keen on attending a liberal arts college. I’ve heard some pretty good things about Vassar, and I’m quite interested. When I brought the school up to my dad today, he basically discouraged me from going there. He said that because it was one of the seven sisters, it had to be radically feminist, and he thought I should look elsewhere. Now, don’t get me wrong, I do consider myself a feminist- that is, I think women and men are equal and should have the same rights. However, I’m not a radical (that’s not meant to be derogatory) feminist- I’m not going to join a bunch of feminist thoughts club, I don’t read Betty Friedan or Gloria Steinem, and I don’t plan on taking any women’s studies classes in college (please excuse the stereotypes- I’m just going by the real-life examples I’ve seen). I’m very intellectual and absolutely adore literature (particularly Classical and Victorian) and History (particularly British). I’d much rather spend my free time in a Virginia Woolf novel than at a feminist rally. I’m not trying to sound superior or pretentious here, but my dad just made Vassar out to be a place where only die-hard feminists go, and if you’re not as equally enthusiastic as the rest about defeating the patriarchy, you’re an outcast.
I know it’s now a co-ed environment (I go to an all-female high school, so that’s what I’m looking for), but is Vassar’s environment incredibly feminist? As I said, I don’t mind die-hard feminists at all. If that’s your thing, than good for you and so be it. But I think I have the right to explore my interests as well. I don’t want to go anywhere where I’m going to be castigated and shunned because I love Britain’s (male-dominated) history or the works of Homer. Anyway, sorry to have such negative assumptions, but I have a few friends at Wellesley who share my interests, and they’ve told me a couple of horror stories about being cussed out for liking male authors and history.
Where did your dad get that idea? The Simpsons? I never felt that Vassar was more radically feminist than any other good LACs. I never felt it and my daugher never talks about her school that way, either.
@HiToWaMom No- what’s that supposed to mean? Actually my dad is a law school professor. He’s worked with graduates and faculty from schools all across the nation. I suppose he’s just developed some stereotypes based on the alumni he’s met from various institutions.
Sorry about bringing up The Simpsons. The show teased Vassar College in a couple of episodes. It’s quite funny.
Anyway, I hope you can visit the school and get the feel for yourself. If you like the school, you can try to convince your father. If your father wouldn’t budge, well, there are tons of good schools out there.
I think it’s stridency rather than feminism you’re wary of. But without the outspoken, where would we be? Nonetheless, I don’t think Vassar is known for its stridency.
It is laughable to compare suffrage for women, if that is your intended reference, to the “issues” - the patriarchy, safe spaces, and microagressions, to name a few - that consume students today.
@MatzoBall I have nothing wrong with the outspoken. I’m quite outspoken myself. I do find something wrong with someone telling me that I can’t like history and 19th-century literature, though, because if I do I “support the patriarchy.”
@CodyChesnutt I agree with you there. Suffrage is an issue that deserves to be commemorated and taken seriously. The “issues” you mentioned I frankly couldn’t care less about.
Have you visited? My impression was that the school was proud of its heritage as a formerly women’s college whose founder invested his fortune (from brewing beer!) to ensure that women would have access to a quality education. But beyond that, it seemed like a campus full of smart, slightly quirky, and down to earth people. I didn’t perceive an overt radical feminist agenda.
I don’t think it’s any more (or less) strident or safe-space conscious than any other LAC of its caliber. You will see that sort of discussion anywhere these days, including Ivies and large state flagships.
If you can tour the campus with your dad, maybe you both will be reassured. I can’t imagine that you’d be mocked or criticized for loving 19th century literature and history because much of it was produced by men. And check out the campus art museum - it is amazing!
My daughter is a student at Vassar, and while she would describe it as a very liberal place, I have never heard her talk about it being a “radical feminist” place. Are there radical feminists on that campus? Of course. You will find them on just about any campus that doesn’t have a decidedly conservative bent. The majority do like Bernie Sanders there though over Hillary Clinton, so take that for what it’s worth. I would also add though that the students pride themselves on being open to all types of viewpoints, and as long as a student doesn’t hate women, they will accept differing viewpoints on feminism.
When I brought the school up to my dad today, he basically discouraged me from going there. He said that because it was one of the seven sisters, it had to be radically feminist, and he thought I should look elsewhere. Now, don’t get me wrong, I do consider myself a feminist- that is, I think women and men are equal and should have the same rights. However, I’m not a radical (that’s not meant to be derogatory) feminist- I’m not going to join a bunch of feminist thoughts club, I don’t read Betty Friedan or Gloria Steinem, and I don’t plan on taking any women’s studies classes in college (please excuse the stereotypes- I’m just going by the real-life examples I’ve seen). I’m very intellectual and absolutely adore literature (particularly Classical and Victorian) and History (particularly British). I’d much rather spend my free time in a Virginia Woolf novel than at a feminist rally. I’m not trying to sound superior or pretentious here, but my dad just made Vassar out to be a place where only die-hard feminists go, and if you’re not as equally enthusiastic as the rest about defeating the patriarchy, you’re an outcast.